Content matrix

Content Matrix

Codex and Claude runtime

• Use this skill in Codex or Claude with the tools actually available in the current task. AskUserQuestion examples describe the questions, not a required API: use an available question tool within its limits, or ask in chat. Reuse answers and source material already supplied.
• Work in the user-selected project. Read its about-me.md, voice.md and relevant brand files before personalised work. Confirm the intended author if files conflict or contain starter defaults. Ask for missing facts or run voice-builder; never inherit the maintainer's identity, accounts or private files.
• Resolve bundled references/ relative to this skill folder. For an explicitly requested profile refresh, read and update the canonical about-me.md, voice.md or newsletter-voice.md in place, preserving unrelated user facts and rules. Consumers must reread those canonical files. Use a new filename only for new deliverables that would collide with unrelated existing files. Installation alone never starts an interview or writes files. Do not write persistent learnings unless requested.
• Use supplied evidence first. Verify external claims through available search/source tools when needed. If a source or integration is unavailable, name the missing capability and offer supplied text/export input. Never invent facts, first-person experience, metrics or a successful tool run.
• Connect only services needed for the chosen route through the user's existing account. Never print credentials or overwrite connections. Drafting, saving and reviewing do not authorise publishing, sending messages or changing accounts.

CRITICAL: Auto-start on load

When this skill triggers, go straight to Step 1. Do not summarise. Start input gathering immediately.

Step 1. Gather inputs

Check the project for about-me.md. If it exists, read it and pre-fill the description of who the user is. Skip that question and tell the user what you pulled.

If about-me.md is missing, ask:

Give me at least two paragraphs describing who you are, what you do, and what you like to discuss. The more specific you are, the more relevant the ideas.

Wait for response.

Then call AskUserQuestion:

[
  {
    "question": "What are your content pillars?",
    "header": "Pillars",
    "multiSelect": false,
    "options": [
      {"label": "I will type them", "description": "I have 3 to 4 content pillars to use"},
      {"label": "Pull from voice.md", "description": "Use the topics already defined in my voice files"},
      {"label": "Suggest them for me", "description": "Based on my about-me.md, recommend 4 pillars"}
    ]
  }
]

If the user types their own, accept 3 to 5 pillars. If fewer than 3, ask for more.

If the user picks "Suggest them for me", read about-me.md, propose 4 pillars covering their positioning, and ask them to confirm or edit before continuing.

Step 2. Build the matrix

Generate a markdown table with:

• X axis (columns): 8 content formats, always in this order:
  1. Actionable
  2. Motivational
  3. Analytical
  4. Contrarian
  5. Observation
  6. X vs Y
  7. Present vs Future
  8. Listicle
• Y axis (rows): the user's 3 to 5 pillars

Every cell contains one specific, concrete post idea tailored to the pillar and format. Not generic. Not reusable across pillars.

Format definitions to apply when filling each cell:

• Actionable: Ultra-specific how-to. Teaches the reader to do one thing.
• Motivational: Inspirational story about someone who did something extraordinary in the niche.
• Analytical: Breakdown of why something works the way it does.
• Contrarian: Go against the common advice in the niche and back it up.
• Observation: A hidden, silent, or underdiscussed trend the user has noticed.
• X vs Y: Compare two entities (tools, styles, frameworks, companies).
• Present vs Future: Current state vs a specific prediction, with the why.
• Listicle: A list of resources, tips, mistakes, lessons, or steps.

Each cell's idea should be a specific headline, not a theme. Good: "A 3-line hook formula for product launches". Bad: "Hooks".

Step 3. Output (surface-aware)

Pick the output mode based on the surface you are running on. Do not output the table in a fenced markdown code block — that renders as monospace plain text and makes a 5×8 grid hard to scan.

• An available interactive chart/table surface: render the matrix as an interactive chart / interactive table widget. Pillars as rows, formats as columns, each cell holding one specific headline. The user should be able to click a cell to see the full headline and any expansion notes. Do not also dump the table as markdown — the chart is the deliverable.
• A file-capable assistant such as Codex or Claude Code: save the matrix to content-matrix-YYYY-MM-DD.md in the current working directory and print the same table inline in the response as a plain markdown table (no triple-backtick wrap). Confirm the file path so the user can open it.
• Fallback (no interactive chart, no file-system tools): output a plain markdown table inline. Still no code-fence wrap.

Below the table or chart, add one sentence naming the single strongest idea across the matrix and why.

Step 4. Offer the next move

Ask:

Any cell here you want me to write as a full post? Reference the cell by pillar + format (for example "Hooks × Contrarian") and I will hand it to the post-writer or post-formatter skill.

When file tools are available, also offer to append the drafted post into the same content-matrix-YYYY-MM-DD.md file under the cell reference.

Rules

• Minimum 3 pillars, maximum 5. More than 5 dilutes the matrix.
• Every cell idea must be specific to that pillar AND that format. Do not reuse the same idea across pillars.
• Tune the language to the user's voice if voice.md exists.
• British English unless voice.md specifies American.
• Never use em dashes.